Plug packer



E. E. SIMPSON Nov. 5, 1929.

PLUG PAoxER Filed Jan. 4,' 1928 INVENTOR L. E. wps o4 BY www,

ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 5, 1929 EDWARD E. SIMPSON, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA PLUG PACKER Application filed Januaiy 4, 1928. Serial No. 24%514.

l This invention relates to plug packers for use in oil and other wells, and is more particularly concerned with a plug packer for oil wells embodying novel constructions and combinationskfof parts and adapted `for use as a wellfbottom plug or as a plug to shut O' gas or water. An object of the invention is to provide a plug packer having means by which it may be determinately positioned above the 'bottom of the well hole. The diameter of the Well hole at its bottom is usually enlarged to such an extent that a packerof a diameter insertible in ythe well casing cannot be expanded sufficiently to equal the enlarged diameter of the bottom and plug packers can best be'operated in thev casing or well bore above the bottom. My invention provides means for variably positioning the packer to shut off gas or water strata below the oil bearing strata, the desirability of which is obvious. f

rThese and other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following detailed specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof and in which:

Figure y1 is a view in vertical section of the bore of a well having the packing unit positioned therein for the packing operation, the

packer being shown in vertical section.

Figure 2 is a similar view with the packer expanded to plug oifthefwell bore at the desired point. n f Figure isa horizontal sectional view through thek expansible packing member taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view through the body of the packer at the line of the shearing pin, the section being taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a detail of the lower end of the expanding mandrel showing the packer retaining slip mounted thereon.

"15 Referring to the drawings by numerals, 1

indicates the "conventional casing `of a well bore 2, which casing, as usual, terminates above the bottom of the well bore. The plug packer of the present invention is of a size permitting its insertion downwardly through the well casing to the desired point and comprises a main tubular body portion including a surmounting expansible tubular packing member, an expanding mandrel above said body portion having a shank extending through its bore and coupled thereto by a shearable pin7 and when necessary or desir'- able, a spacing member coupled to and depending from the bottom of the body portion determinately to space the packer from the bottom o1 the well.

yThe base of the packer comprises a tubu-` lar body 3 of wood, such as cypress having a metal head 4 applied to its lower end and having the face oi' its upper end formed with an annular channel y5, in which is seated a boss 6 formed at the lower end of a tubular expansible packing sleeve 7 which maybe of rubber or rubber composition and which with the lower body 3 of the packer is yof a diameter closely fitting the internal diameter of the well casing so that the most eiiective results from its expansion may be secured.

The bore 8 at the lower end of the expansible sleeve 7 is of less diameter and extent than the bore 9 at `the upperend of the sleeve providing an annular shoulder 10 separating these two bores of different diameters. The bore 8 of the expansible sleeve and the bore of the wood base 8 of the packerare the same and are lined by a tube 11, the lower end of which projects beyond the head 4 and is externally threaded to receive the upper threaded end oi a spacing tube 12 by means of which the packer is determinately posi, tioned from the bottom of the well. The lining tube 11 extends above the shoulder 10 of the expansible sleeve and is externally threaded to receive a protecting sleeve 13 threaded thereon.

Adjacent to and below the annular seat 5, i

PATENT ,o1-*FICE upper end ot the expansible sleeve 7 as shown in Figure 1. T he upper end of the tapering portion 16 is 'formed with a collar 17 and with a neck 18 extending thereabove and 1provided with an annular series of teeth 19 tor engagement by a lishing tool when it is necessary forcibly to withdraw the mandrel. ik bore i() is provided in the neck to receive a suitable coupling by which the packer andmandrel may be lowered, and by which they may be connected to the drilling bit tor driving the mandrel downwardly.

It it is desired to set the plug packer at the bottom ot' the well bore, lthe spacing tube 1Q is uncoupled or it it is necessary to anchor the plug a determinate distance above the bottom, tubing 12 of the requisite length is coupled to the lower end ot the packer lining tube 11. rlhe packer is lowered to the desired point by means ot a wire or cable whose lower end is passed through the pening 2O in the neck of the mandrel. When the plug packer reaches the bottom of the well borea drilling hitch is taken and driving started,whereupon the pin 14 will shear o and the mandrel will be driven down to insert its tapering portion 16 within the enpansible sleeve 7 compressing it downwardly and expanding it outwardly lirmly into all crevices of the well wall as suggested by Figure 2, after which the wire or cable is pulled Yfrom the neck 2O leaving the mandrel in expanding relation to the packing plug.

The weight of the mandrel alone is insuiticient to retain Vthe packer in expanded pesition against the pressure otgas or other tluid acting thereagainst. I have therefore provided means for locking the mandrel with the packerin expanded position. The shank portion 15 of the mandrel is recessed to provide a tapering notch 21 having thereon a vertically extending rib or tongue 22. A toothed slip 23 of correspondinfy taper is formed on its under tace with a vertically e1;- tending groove 2l by means of which the slip is seater` and retained upon the tapered 'lace of the shank l5, resting by gravity at the lower end of theY tapering recess as indicated in Figurel The tapered notch Q1 is oi greater extent than the length oi the slip 23 permitting t ie latter to ride up therein when the shank of the mandrel is inserted in the upper end Vof the lining tube y11. lWhen the mandrel is driven downwardly to expand the packer, the slip will ride upwardly on its seat permitting the mandrel to be driven down to packer eXpa Lng position. Retraction of the mandrel, however, trom expanding osition through the force ci gas or other i pressure acting yagainst the packer is vented however, ince upward movement the mandrel shank forces the slip ou wardly again t i its teeth to bite into said tube to resis vent such retraction ot the man lrel.

slip, however, will permit forcible retraction, when necessary, so that the mandrel with its attached packer may be withdrawn for repositioning in the event of error in its initial positioning. This forcible withdrawing may so injure the lining tube 11 or the espansible rubber sleeve so as to require replacement ot one or both, butthe packer is constructed to permit this to be easily edected. The protecting sleeve 13 is designed to prevent splitting of the upper end or" the lining tube 18 in initially inserting the shank 15 oi the mandrel with its locking slip and also to protect the upper end ofy the tube should the lower tapering end of the mandrel be driven partially therein in the expanding et the packing sleeve 7.

The specific :torm'oic packer as described herein, while it represents Va preferable fembodiment ot the invention, is intended as illustrative rather than restrictive of the invention and structural modification and adaptation thereof to meet var ,fing conditions is contemplated in consonance with the spi 'it ol the invent-ion and the scope of the appended claims. o

iVhat l claim therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A packer comprising a `tubular rigid body portion surmounted by an expansible tubular packing member with the bores of said body portion and member in axial alinement, said packing member having a bore coincident with that of the body7 portion at its lower end enlarged thereabove to provide a shoulder, a tube lining the adjoining bores of said body portion and packing memberwith its upper end positioned above said shoulder and provided with a protecting sleeve and with its lower end projecting below the base ot said body portion and formed to couple thereto .a spacing member to position said body determinately above the bottom of the well bore, an `ezrpandin lg mandrel suspending said body portion having an elongated shank at its lower end extending in the bore of and coupled to said body portion b v a `pin shearable by forcible relative inter-engaging movement ot mandrel and packer, the mandrel above the packer in its coupled position having an outwardly tapering portion adapted to enter and expand outwardly, said pacle ing member upon forcible interengaging relative movement shearingsaid pin.

Q. A packer comprising a tubular rigid body portion surmounted by an expansible tubular packing member with the bores of said body portion and member in axial alinement, said packing member having a bore coincident with that of the body portion at its lower end enlarged thereabove to provide a shoulder, a tube lining the adjoining bores of said body portion and packing member with its upper end positioned above said shoulder and provided with a protecting sleeve and with its lower end projecting below the base of said body portion and formed to couple thereto a spacing member to position said body determinately above the bottom of the well bore, an expanding mandrel suspending said body portion having an elongated shank at its lower end extending in the bore of and coupled to said body portion by a pin shearable by forcible relative inter-engaging movement of mandrel and packer, the mandrel above the packer in its coupled position having an outwardly tapering portion adapted to enter and expand outwardly, said packing member upon forcible interengaging relative movement shearing said pin, the shank of said mandrel having a tapering notch therein slidably mounting a tapered toothed slip and eli'ective to Wedge said slip against said body lining tube upon movement of said mandrel away from packer expanding position.

bigned at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, this 29th day of December, A. D. 1927.

EDWVARD E. SIMPSON. 

